§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Paymaster General if he will publish in the Official Report the number of additional inspectors that will be employed by the Agricultural Inspectorate for the enforcement of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985.
§ Mr. TrippierThe total number of agricultural inspectors in post on I July 1986 was 160. The Health and Safety Executive has said that it will meet its responsibilities for enforcing the Food and Environment Protection Act. This will have to be done with existing staff through rearrangement of priorities since two or three years are required to recruit and train fully effective new inspectors. Active recruitment to the Agricultural Inspectorate is nevertheless currently under way.